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Using the command line or character based interfaces--ftp,
telnet3270, and archie--I entered many incorrect commands, filenames,
and cursor positions. When presented with a limited set of options,
through graphical dialog boxes and perfectly named icons, I felt like
everything I did was on purpose (even when I dragged an important file
into the Macintosh Trash can--maybe this is a false sense of
security). For these Internet utilities, I was able to work better
with the graphical versions--where I could click on the desired
gopher menu, drag the desired filename, and where there was no chance
of typing or cursor positioning errors.
When connected to any remote system with Telnet 3270 software, the
cursor must be positioned at exactly the right position on the screen
for data entry. If the user presses the keyboard when the cursor is
anywhere else on the screen, the terminal locks up and must be
reset using a cryptic key combination. I've witnessed this (and
heard the distinct `NOT HERE' error chirp) over and over again
in the GSLIS Lab--a mistake made by both experienced and novice users
alike.
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sean dreilinger